Christchurch · Pre-Seed–Seed · 23 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Ministry of Awesome is a founder-first, founder-led startup support organisation focused on growing the Aotearoa New Zealand economy through startup innovation. It supports early-stage founders from initial idea refinement through scaling after a capital raise, connecting them with experienced mentors, preparing them for investors, and partnering with organisations that enable growth. It also serves investors by providing better deal flow and long-term insights into promising New Zealand startups, and works with partners to shape policy and fund programmes, communities, and events. It maintains physical and virtual hubs and runs initiatives such as Electrify Aotearoa and community programmes across the country.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 23 people
from the firm's websiteFounder mafia
The Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) mafia →6 people who came through Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 2 of 15 portfolio companiesAgTech ×1Cybersecurity ×1EdTech ×1Fintech ×1Future of Work ×1SaaS ×1
HQs:New Zealand×1
Portfolio companies · 15 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeOpefin ingests a firm's AML programme and risk matrix and turns it into a live risk-scoring engine that reconciles client source-of-funds declarations against bank data pulled via Open Banking.
CybersecurityFintechSaaS
Volly Solutions provides drone-based farm mapping, aerial imagery, and digital solutions for the agriculture and horticulture industry in New Zealand.
AgTechEdTechFuture of WorkNew Zealand, NZ
Hamish Vollebregt(Co-founder)Brent Vollebregt(Co-founder)
Co-investorsCreative HQ — The Incubator
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Galin EngineGeoddeGuardian FlameInfraXInoscopeinviolNomuObsidian SystemsOnChain EducationOrvaThe Others ClubVraxWildMark
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) made?
- Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) has 15 tracked investments.
- What stage does Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) invest at?
- Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) focus on?
- Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) focuses on Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) located?
- Founder Catalyst (Ministry of Awesome) is headquartered in Christchurch, NZ.
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